Mentalsidewalk

I am so mentally and physically exhausted.  How in the world do they do it?  I have just been humbled by all ages, genders and sizes as they passed right by me.

I did my very first duathlon, run – bike – run, and what a whirlwind of emotions from the night before to hours after the race.

Two days prior I started feeling a little under the weather.  It almost got the better of me until I got control of my mindset.  I do not mean it got the better of me as I got too sick.  In fact it was just lingering within me.  It almost got the better of my state of mind, an easy way out of not following through.

How often do we come so close to starting what we desire

and at the last minute we find a small insignificant reason to quit on ourselves.

When I arrived at the race location, I felt like I was walking into a speech to thousands of people with a topic I knew nothing about.   All the racers were showing up with their professional triathlon bikes and gear.  They looked so focused and determined with their pre-race rituals and stretches.  I was once again ready to quit.  Nothing a bit of self-affirmation talk couldn’t fix.

Turned out that the people were very friendly and helpful in guiding me on my first event.  I remember one woman taking the time to give me some guidance and in the end of the race I see her announced as having the best time in the women category. 

How often in our business and lives do we fear and have a mis perception of the successful? 

Change the way we think about people and the people we think about will change. 

What a great feeling when the bell goes off to start the race.  The first leg of the race, the run, I took it a little easy to conserve energy.  I did feel a little nauseous as my body was still recuperating.  Luckily it balanced it self and did not get any worse.

Now the fun begins, my very first transition from the run to the bike.  It went pretty well except of the fact that I got disqualified.

I got overwhelmed and forgot a very critical safety rule that was made very clear to us.  You are not allowed to touch your bike until you clip your helmet on.  Not only did not not clip it on, I completely forgot to wear it.

The biking it self, Wow! Not only was I exhausted from the unexpected wind, (not being in shape might have something to do with it)  but more so the re-visit of some of my old injuries screaming for help.  

Honestly I could not wait to get off the bike.  Here is where the true adventure started, the major dehydration cramp in my leg reminded me that I forgot to rehydrate after my steam room the night before.

Now for the last transition, bike to the run again.  One eight of the way into the run the dehydration in my leg kicked in full force, pulsating and cramping my leg to a hobble.

Half way through the run my knee on the other leg went on strike, forcing me to somehow hobble on both legs.

What a humbling experience, one runner after another passing me by as I hobbled and walked the rest of the way.  The amazing part was the support from every runner that passed me, cheering me on not to give up.  

Be it a duathlon, an Ironman or a business venture, the following are a few lessons to keep in the forefront of your mind.

Dig Deep: As a lot of the runners said as they ran by me, “dig deep – you are just around the corner”.  There will always be a million reasons to give up.  Focus on the one that gives you a reason to keep moving forward.

One Inch at a Time: I wish I could go from the couch to an Ironman in a month.  Success takes time to build one inch at a time.  

Surround Yourself with Success:   Find the successful in what you want to achieve and gravitate towards them.  They not only have the knowledge and experience to guide you but they are also very willing to help.  And if you come across the few that want to hold on to their time and experience, smile and move on to the next.

Focus on Your Purpose: My purpose for doing this race kept me going through any circumstance it threw at me.

Take accountability: In the end of the race, people came up to me and said I should not have been disqualified.  My response was “yes I should have been.”  Not only was it a critical safety rule, but it was also made very clear numerous times.  Anyone can push blame, take accountability for your actions.  

The most important thing I learned.   I am not 20 anymore, I cannot just decide to do stuff like this anymore.  I actually have to put the time in to train.  AH!

Fred Sarkari

Okanagan

I forgot how pleasurable this pain is, it reminds us that we are alive and not just existing like a dead fish floating down stream.

I had the pleasure of running with a 6 x Ironman athlete yesterday.  Oh! did I mention she has also ran a 100 km Marathon.  Hence why I am sitting on a chair on sunday playing on the computer instead of walking around.

It had to be one of the most beautiful runs I have had in a very long time. Running beside Lake Okanagan on a beautiful sunny day.

Later that day my muscles and body communicated to me that they had been over used and abused and they were going on a movement strike.

That is when it occured to me the power of your environment and the affect it has on what we are capable of doing, mentally and physically.

I never realized the extent of the distance we ran and the intervals of hills that we challenged ourselves on.  It was more than what I would have ever done on my own.

When we change how we look at things

the things we look at will change.  

Because I was more focused on the great company I was pelasured with and the beautiful scenery, I lost sight on the struggles of the run.  

That is the same when it comes to all aspects of our lives.  Our state of mind will affect our emotions, physical capabilities, will also affect us physiologically.  

If you want to replace a thought in your mind, mine being the physical pain of running, than you need to replace it with a mind set of greater value; enjoyment, environment, laughter, the right people…

We are a product of our environment and those that we associate with.  

Can you imagine:

Swimming 2.4 miles (3.87 km)

Biking 112 miles (180.65 km)

Running 26.2 miles (42.26 km)

That is where it all starts, by imagining the possible.

The Ironman is one of the ultimate challenges a person can face, not only for its immense physical training but more so for its mental training.

The Ironman to me stands for finishing what you started, to do what you set out to do; and that is the essence of one’s character.

Every individual that has completed an Ironman has in no doubt inspired another to hold on to and chase a dream one day longer.

It inspires us to imagine the possible.

You might not be the fastest or even faster than the one in front of you, but definitely you will be faster than the one who never started.

This video is on of the most inspiring videos I have ever watched.  I can only dream of one day having the courage this man has.

It all starts by imagining the possible.

Ironman to me represents what life is all about:

• Imagine the possibilities.
• Work towards your dreams.
• Finish what you started.
• Never give up.

Along the way you will inspire all those that cross your path in life, not only for completing the Ironman but more so for the person you become along the way.